Ed Davey's speech to Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference

Ed Davey's speech to Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference

Good morning Conference. It's good to be with you all, here in Edinburgh.

But of course it's bittersweet - for me, as I'm sure it is for you too – to be here at Conference without our dear friends Ming and Jim.

Two giants of our party, of Scottish politics and of politics as a whole.

Two thoughtful, funny and generous Liberals who I was fortunate to know and work with over three decades.

Ming, who stood up so courageously and so powerfully for what was right - not least when the Labour Government, the Conservative Party and most of the media united to support George W Bush's illegal war in Iraq.

Ming, whose serious, forensic approach – with the skills of an accomplished lawyer once offered a seat on Scotland's highest court – gave our whole party the confidence and credibility to oppose that war, despite the whole establishment on both sides of the Atlantic railing against us.

It was a privilege to serve as his Chief of Staff when Ming led our party.

And Jim - so instrumental and central to shaping not just the Scottish Parliament but the new Scottish Government, from its birth. Scotland's First Deputy Minister.

From leading the Liberal Democrats in the Lords to his year as Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Jim brought his Liberalism and Christian values to a life of public service.

And Jim also gave me my first job in the party - back in 1989 as the party's Economics Advisor. I'll leave it to you to decide what his biggest legacy was.

Friends, like so many of us here today, I benefited enormously from their wisdom, advice and guidance over many, many years. I owe them both a great debt - and our whole Liberal family owes them a great debt.

Ming, Jim, we miss you. And we salute you.

Yet while it is bittersweet, it's also really good to be together with you all today.

It's great to see so much energy and excitement.

So much passion and determination.

This is our year, isn't it?

It's fantastic to see just how up you are - for May's election.

Because you are up for it, aren't you?

Up for taking the fight to the SNP?

To Labour and the Conservatives?

Taking the fight to Reform?

And getting loads more brilliant Liberal Democrat candidates elected to Holyrood – to join Alex and his fantastic team?

I know you're up for it - because I've seen the figures. The canvas data. You are knocking it out of the park!

And I know it's not just Alex – our very own Lib Dem Duracell Bunny - tireless campaigner that he is.

Now you are all such a brilliant team and should be so proud.

But I do have to thank Alex Cole-Hamilton for us all - what a terrific champion for our party and our liberal values!

And isn't that exactly what Scotland needs right now, friends?

A leader – and a party – who will stand up for our proud values. Of tolerance. Decency. Respect for individual freedom. Respect for the rule of law.

The values that make Scotland great. That make our United Kingdom great.

The strong, liberal values we all hold so dear.

But Liberal values that are under threat - in our country and across the globe – in a way I've never seen before in my lifetime.

On the world stage, we see it from Vladimir Putin – waging war on our continent. Murdering innocent Ukrainian civilians. Undermining other European democracies.

We see it from President Xi. Waging his own campaign of espionage and repression. Including against our country, and Hong Kongers in our communities.

But what is most alarming, of course, is that we now see it from the White House itself.

Donald Trump - ripping up the rules-based international order, one bad-tempered Truth Social post at a time.

Breaking international law, to use the might of America's military to take control of Venezuelan oil.

Threatening to break international law even against America's closest NATO allies - just because he wants to own Greenland.

Threatening to end the defence alliance that's so crucial for the security of people across Europe, including here in the UK.

Trump, pulling America out of the Paris Climate Agreement and now reversing the scientific finding that greenhouse gas emissions are dangerous.

As if science can be reversed just because the President doesn't like it.

Trump, sending armed, masked federal agents into Minneapolis, who shot and killed two innocent American citizens in those horrifying scenes.

And Trump, using trade tariffs as a weapon for whatever crazy idea comes into his mind.

Causing enormous damage to jobs, growth and the cost of living here in the UK, in his own country, and around the world.

Until yesterday - with that brilliant decision by the US Supreme Court.

Conference, let's hope that the rule of law will triumph in America today - and bring to book the most dangerous, damaging US President of modern times.

Because we Liberals are not alone in looking on Trump's behaviour and beliefs with horror.

The vast majority of Scots, of Brits, of people across parties have agreed with us - as we Liberal Democrats have proudly led the UK's opposition to Trump.

But there is one man - one man who sees Trump, not as a threat, not as a danger, but as an inspiration. A role model.

Nigel Farage.

Farage and Reform - who share Trump's admiration for Vladimir Putin.

Farage and Reform - who want to divide people, not bring people together.

Farage and Reform - who look to Trump's America, with private healthcare, loose gun laws and increasing authoritarian rule…..

… and want to bring all that to Scotland and the UK.

Friends, we cannot let Trump's America become Farage's Britain.

And friends it's up to us to stop him.

Because the other parties won't.

They have all, in their own ways, contributed to Farage's rise.

The Conservative Party, as they so badly let people down and took them for granted during their disastrous time in government.

Who trashed our economy with their damaging Brexit deal and Liz Truss's catastrophic Mini-Budget.

Who destroyed people's trust in politics with the endless slew of scandals.

And then the Labour Party, who promised change. Who told us they'd end all the scandals and the sleaze.

Who promised, in black and white, in their manifesto, to “break the cycle and stop the chaos.”

You know, I think we all really wanted them to succeed in that. We hoped they would do what they promised – restore people's trust and deliver for the British people.

But it hasn't turned out that way, has it conference? What a mess Labour have created.

And here in Scotland, people and businesses have been doubly let down.

Let down by failing Conservative and Labour governments in Westminster, and let down by a failed SNP government here in Holyrood.

The truth is, the SNP has been in government for far too long. Embroiled in their own series of scandals. And failing even to get the basics right.

Letting people down. On the NHS. On social care. On education. On the economy and the environment. On the cost of living. And the ferries fiasco.

After so many years of failure – by governments in Westminster and Holyrood – is it any wonder people are feeling so disillusioned?

Is it any wonder people are so desperate for change?

But the question is: what change?

And with those other parties so discredited, so distrusted, so disgraced… it comes down to a choice.

A choice between our Liberal change, and Nigel Farage's Trump change.

Liberal Democrat change – true to British values. Transforming our economy, improving our public services and renewing our politics.

The real change people crave.

Change with fairness at its heart.

Or Farage's change. Change away from the country we love, to a version of Trump's America we fear.

Setting people's sights lower. Becoming smaller, meaner.

Closing the country off. Turning inwards. Talking about all the things we can't do.

I don't think Farage's vision befits Scotland or our great United Kingdom.

So friends, let's use the coming elections to make the case for the positive Liberal Democrat change - change with fairness at its heart.

And that starts with the economy.

Because people are struggling against a cost-of-living crisis. Sky-high energy bills, food prices, housing costs and unfair taxes.

And businesses are being hampered by the Brexit trade barriers and red tape, Labour's tax rises and the SNP's anti-business agenda.

We need to show people we can build a modern economy that is genuinely innovative, dynamic and fair.

Where families and pensioners can afford a decent life.  

Where businesses and entrepreneurs are incentivised to invest and grow.

And where the UK builds new economic alliances in an insecure world.

And how do we do that? By backing British business to innovate, scale and trade.

Innovate – by putting in place the right incentives for all businesses - to make the most of new technology and ideas. Boosting productivity.

Scale – by making sure our amazing start-ups and scale-ups can access the capital they need to grow. Backing enterprise.

And trade – especially with Europe, by tearing down the trade barriers and red tape put up by the Conservatives, and championed by Nigel Farage. Starting with a new UK-EU Customs Union and youth mobility scheme.

And we can do it.

Because the truth is, our family of nations really is incredible.

Our financial and business services sectors make us a trade superpower.

We are world leaders in the creative industries and life sciences, renewables and low-carbon technology, and home to the third largest market in artificial intelligence.

Many of our universities – including here in Edinburgh, in Glasgow and St Andrews – are among the best on the planet.

So we can grow and thrive, and create jobs. We can give people the world-class public services they deserve. And yes we can end the cost of living crisis and give people hope.

Conference – what an uplifting vision we have for our country.

What a positive agenda for change in Scotland you are setting out here this week.

Not Farage's divisive, destructive kind of change.

But real change. Change with fairness at its heart.

Friends, we've got the vision. We've got the message.

You've got the candidates. You've got the leader.

Now all we need is to get as many Liberal Democrats elected to Holyrood to make it happen.

So let's get out there! Good luck and godspeed.

Thank you.